Mood:

We found a replacement alternator for $85 at Riteway and they threw in the brace FREE!
$500 in parts (new) for under $100!
Van’s all back together, and with labour it cost under half of the original estimate.

The mechanic found that the original brace hadn’t been properly secured. It had been shaking itself loose since before we got it, then finally snapped.

In my mind’s eye I see some yokel scratching his head looking at an extra screw in his hand after he put the engine back together (it’s an ICBC rebuild).

Luckily it happened when she was going slow and not when bearing down on a curve on the highway (no power steering at 100+ km/h?)!